Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/therapy* ; Self Care ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications*

Objectives: Triglyceride-glucose index (TyGI) is an emerging surrogate marker of insulin resistance. We aim to explore the role of triglyceride-glucose index in the prediction of the development of hypertension. Methodology: nducted a retrospective cohort study that included 3,183 study participants identified from a community health screening programme who had no baseline hypertension and were then followed up after an average of 1.7 years. Cox proportional-hazard model was used to assess the association between risk of incident hypertension and TyGI in quartiles, while adjusting for demographics and clinical characteristics. Results: Hypertension occurred in 363 study participants (11.4%). Those who developed hypertension had higher TyGI [8.6 (IQR 8.2-9.0)] than those who did not [8.2 (IQR 8.0-8.7)] (p<0.001). Significant association between TyGI and hypertension was observed in both the unadjusted and proportional hazard model [Quartile (Q)2, p=0.010; Q3, p<0.001 and Q4, p<0.001] and the model that adjusted for demographics (Q2, p=0.016; Q3, p=0.003; Q4, p<0.001). In the model adjusted for clinical covariates, the hazard of developing hypertension remained higher in TyGI Q4 compared to TyGI Q1(Hazard Ratio=2.57; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.71, 3.87). Increasing triglyceride-glucose index accounted for 16.4% of the association between increasing BMI and incident hypertension, after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity and baseline HDL cholesterol (p<0.001). Conclusion Triglyceride-glucose index was an independent predictor of the development of hypertension. It may potentially be used as an inexpensive indicator to predict the development of hypertension and risk-stratify individuals to aid management in clinical practice.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Triglycerides ; Hypertension ; Screening

Initiation of insulin therapy is challenging in the primary care setting without nursing support. Doctors have to prepare their practices to deal with these challenges in order not to delay insulin therapy when needed.

Initiation of insulin therapy is challenging in the primary care setting without nursing support. Doctors have to prepare their practices to deal with these challenges in order not to delay insulin therapy when needed.

INTRODUCTION: The risk for diabetes progression varies greatly in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to study the clinical determinants of diabetes progression in multiethnic Asians with T2DM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2057 outpatients with T2DM from a secondary-level Singapore hospital were recruited for the study. Diabetes progression was defined as transition from non-insulin use to requiring sustained insulin treatment or glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥8.5% when treated with 2 or more oral hypoglycaemic medications. Multivariable logistic regression (LR) was used to study the clinical and biochemical variables that were independently associated with diabetes progression. Forward LR was then used to select variables for a parsimonious model. RESULTS: A total of 940 participants with no insulin use or indication for insulin treatment were analysed. In 3.2 ± 0.4 (mean ± SD) years' follow-up, 163 (17%) participants experienced diabetes progression. Multivariable LR revealed that age at T2DM diagnosis (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.96 [0.94-0.98]), Malay ethnicity (1.94 [1.19-3.19]), baseline HbA1c (2.22 [1.80-2.72]), body mass index (0.96 [0.92-1.00]) and number of oral glucose-lowering medications (1.87 [1.39-2.51]) were independently associated with diabetes progression. Area under receiver operating characteristic curve of the parsimonious model selected by forward LR (age at T2DM diagnosis, Malay ethnicity, HbA1c and number of glucose-lowering medication) was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.72-0.80). CONCLUSION Young age at T2DM diagnosis, high baseline HbA1c and Malay ethnicity are independent determinants of diabetes progression in Asians with T2DM. Further mechanistic studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology underpinning progressive loss of glycaemic control in patients with T2DM.

INTRODUCTIONWe aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of canagliflozin as compared to sitagliptin in a real-world setting among multiethnic patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Singapore.

METHODSThis was a new-user, active-comparator, single-centre retrospective cohort study. Patients aged 18-69 years with T2DM and estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m were eligible for inclusion if they were initiated and maintained on a steady daily dose of canagliflozin 300 mg or sitagliptin 100 mg between 1 May and 31 December 2014, and followed up for 24 weeks.

RESULTSIn total, 57 patients (canagliflozin 300 mg, n = 22; sitagliptin 100 mg, n = 35) were included. The baseline patient characteristics in the two groups were similar, with overall mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 9.4% ± 1.4%. The use of canagliflozin 300 mg was associated with greater reductions in HbA1c (least squares [LS] mean change -1.6% vs. -0.4%; p < 0.001), body weight (LS mean change -3.0 kg vs. 0.2 kg; p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (LS mean change: -9.7 mmHg vs. 0.4 mmHg; p < 0.001), as compared with sitagliptin 100 mg. About half of the patients on canagliflozin 300 mg reported mild osmotic diuresis-related side effects that did not lead to drug discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that canagliflozin was more effective than sitagliptin in reducing HbA1c, body weight and systolic blood pressure in patients with T2DM, although its use was associated with an increased incidence of mild osmotic diuresis-related side effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Canagliflozin ; administration & dosage ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osmosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Sitagliptin Phosphate ; administration & dosage ; Systole ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: An inter-arm difference in systolic blood pressure (IADSBP) of 10 mmHg or more has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and increased mortality in T2DM patients. We aim to study ethnic disparity in IADSBP and its determinants in a multi-ethnic T2DM Asian cohort.
METHODOLOGY: Bilateral blood pressures were collected sequentially in Chinese (n=654), Malays (n=266) and Indians (n=313). IADSBP was analyzed as categories (
RESULTS: Malays (27.4%) and Indians (22.4%) had higher prevalence of IADSBP ?10 mmHg than Chinese (17.4%) (p=0.002). After adjustment for age, gender, duration of diabetes, hemoglobin A1c, body mass index (BMI), heart rate, pulse wave velocity (PWV), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), smoking, hypertension, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), and usage of hypertension medications, ethnicity remained associated with IADSBP. While Malays were more likely to have IADSBP ?10 mmHg than Chinese (OR=1.648, 95%CI: 1.138-2.400, p=0.009), Indians had comparable odds with the Chinese. BMI (OR=1.054, 95%CI: 1.022-1.087, p=0.001) and hypertension (OR=2.529, 95%CI: 1.811-3.533, p<0.001) were also associated with IADSBP ?10 mmHg.
CONCLUSION: IADSBP in Malays were more likely to be ?10 mmHg than the Chinese which may explain their higher risk for CVD and mortality. Measuring bilateral blood pressures may identify high-risk T2DM individuals for intensive risk factor-management.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged 80 And Over ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Mortality ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Body Mass Index ; Hemoglobins ; Heart Rate ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Creatinine ; Smoking ; Hypertension

Adult ; Age Factors ; Ambulatory Care ; Appointments and Schedules ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; therapy ; Ethnic Groups ; statistics & numerical data ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; India ; Logistic Models ; Malaysia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; No-Show Patients ; statistics & numerical data ; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ; ROC Curve ; Referral and Consultation ; Reminder Systems ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; Text Messaging

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to develop and validate a carbohydrate and insulin dosing knowledge quiz for adult Asian patients with diabetes mellitus.

METHODOLOGY: A self-administered quiz was developed to test carbohydrate recognition; single food carbohydrate estimation; meal carbohydrate estimation and food label reading; and insulin dosing calculation for carbohydrate, blood glucose and for a meal in a multi-ethnic Asian population. The subjects’ carbohydrate knowledge and insulin dosing ability were rated by the study dietitian and the subjects’ primary physicians, respectively. We compared the quiz scores with the dietitians’ and physician ratings and the subjects’ HbA1c. Reliability of the quiz was tested by measuring internal consistency and split half reliability.

RESULTS: Seventy-five subjects completed the study. Median (inter-quartile range) quiz score was 71.9 (60.2 to 83.6)%. The quiz score was found to be correlated with the healthcare provider assessments (r=0.652, p<0.001) and the subjects’ HbA1c (r=-0.375, p=0.001). Cronbach alpha was 0.897 and Guttman split half coefficient was 0.930.

CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggested that this newly developed quiz had good reliability and validity for testing carbohydrate and insulin dosing knowledge in a group of Asian subjects with diabetes mellitus. This can be a useful screening tool in clinical practice.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Asian

INTRODUCTIONMillions of Muslim patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) fast during Ramadan. However, little is known about the metabolic impact of Ramadan fasting. We aimed to study the changes in body composition and metabolic profile in this group of patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe studied 29 Southeast Asian Muslim patients with type 2 diabetes; all underwent pre-Ramadan education. Study variables were weight change, body composition (using multifrequency bioimpedance method, InBody S20®, Biospace, South Korea), blood pressure (BP), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting lipid profile, and caloric intake assessment using FoodWorks® nutrient analysis software.

RESULTSTwenty-three subjects fasted ≥15 days; mean ± SD: 57 ± 11 years; 52% were males. HbA1c improved significantly (8.6 ± 2.4% pre-Ramadan vs 8.0 ± 2.3% end-Ramadan, P = 0.017). Despite similar body weight, there was reduction in body fat mass (BFM) (30.9 ± 11 kg vs 29.2 ± 12.2 kg, P = 0.013). Multivariate analysis suggested that the reduction in HbA1c was attributed by reduction in BFM (β = -0.196, P = 0.034). There was no change in visceral adiposity (visceral fat area (VFA)) but stratification by gender showed a reduction amongst females (137.6 ± 24.5 cm2 to 132.5 ± 25.7 cm2, P = 0.017). These changes occurred despite similar total caloric intake (1473.9 ± 565.4 kcal vs 1473.1 ± 460.4 kcal, P = 0.995), and proportion of carbohydrate (55.4 ± 6.3% vs 53.3 ± 7.5%, P = 0.25) and protein intake (17.6 ± 4.1% vs 17.3 ± 5.4%, P = 0.792), before and during Ramadan respectively, but with increased proportion of fat intake (11.9 ± 2.4% vs 13 ± 11.7%, P = 0.04). Seven out of 23 patients had medications adjusted to avert symptomatic hypoglycaemia but none of the patients developed severe hypoglycaemia.

CONCLUSIONRamadan fasting can be practiced safely with prior patient education and medication adjustment. It also confers modest benefits on metabolic profile and body composition, especially among females.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; physiopathology ; Energy Intake ; Fasting ; physiology ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Holidays ; Humans ; Islam ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss